SRAR – Soft Robotics for Ankle Rehabilitation
SRAR – Robótica blanda para la rehabilitación del tobillo
The SRAR project aims to design a soft robotics platform for ankle rehabilitation in the initial phases of therapy for patients who have suffered a stroke. The primary objective of the SRAR project is to provide a cost-effective, portable, and comfortable platform to assist physical therapists. This approach is expected to result in health benefits, reduced rehabilitation periods, and cost mitigation for healthcare systems. To ensure anatomical compatibility with the complex ankle joint and maximize user comfort during rehabilitation tasks, SRAR aims to minimize rigid components in the robotic platform. This involves integrating novel soft actuators (SMA-based), mechanisms with variable stiffness, and textile sensor technologies into an ankle exoskeleton capable of performing smooth movements while ensuring safe interaction with patients. The solution will offer two different operating modes: passive rehabilitation therapy and active rehabilitation. In active mode, therapy involves the patient participating in the control loop, using electromyography (EMG) signals to detect movement intentions and angular or torque positions.
Jesús Tornero and Natacha León, from the Center for Clinical Neuroscience-Hospital Los Madroños, collaborate on the SRAR project as rehabilitation healthcare specialists.